The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-10-26

understand the worship of the ancisnss
that caused them to make Gods out of their
great heroes and can likewise appreciate
the feelings of the Russians in thus gl0ri-
flying their greatest sovereign.
ST. PETERsBURG's PALACES OF AMUSEMENT.
But to 90 from grave to gay and
from the severe to the lively, l
will leave the consideration Of churches
and next briefly refer to the var
ious places of amusement OF st. Petersburg.
The legitimate theatres here are still under
the control of the Government, and nothing
is produced without official supervision.
The principal opera house is called the
Great Theatre" and is magnificent
building devoted entirely to Italian Grand
Opera and the Ballet The Russians are
passionRtely fond of both Opera and Bal
let and the houses are always packed 70
witness thems The "Marinsky Theatre"
another handsome structure, gives only
Russian Opera, and / had the pleasure of
here seeing the Russian Grand Opera of
"Rohmeda' splendidly mounted and pre-
sented. The Alexander Theatre is de-
voted to Russian Drama; and the Michael
to French aud German. The people OF st.
Petersburg make the most of the short
summer allowed them, and the summer re-
SORTS are thronged even when IL is so cold
that heavy overcoat IS very desirable.
The Geological Gardens are charming
place where there are bands OF
music, two theatres, an outdoor
ballet and many entertaining features.
The people gather here and at similar re-
sorts in the evening in great numbers and
sit about in IN the open air, smoking, sip
ping their "Vodki," listening to the
music and possibly gossiping about their
neighbors.
RUSSIAN DRINKS, DREss, ETC.
A favorite drink is "Atsohisehene"
a species Of light brandy to which
the natives are much addicted. Tea is uni
versSllv used in Russia and they drink it
from glass, instead Of a cup, placing moth
ing in it but small slice of lemon. A
lump of sugar is usually eaten with it bat
| ii is held in the fingers snd not put in the
tea. The "Samovar" is always present
and the cup of tea always ready at hotels.
restaurants, private houses and every
| where else and is sold ct little stands on the
streets as sodawster and lemonade are with
US. The flavor is much finer than that used
| in America, which is explained by the
| fact that the tea used in Russia comes over
| land direct from Pekin, while that which
we get is iDjuriously affected by being
| transported by sea. Ia Russia everyone
| smokes-ladies as well as gentlemen aud
| with equal publicity; aud ladies can be
frequently seen IN hotel parlors and similar
| public places putfiDg away OF their
cigarettes, in the most open manner. The
| best ladies smoke aDdtheTe is no attempt a.
| comcealmsnt about it, l have spoken
caps IN this country and the
wearing of high boots Is equally
| general with the uassss. The dress OF the
| laboripg man usually being broad
crowned cap, hiRh-topped boots, aud
flaming red shirt drawn together Sbout
the waist by belt and worn outside the
| trousers. That expressive little rhYm
with which youthful Americs is familiar
| which begins "Gjddy-giGdy-Gout" might
be very practically sung to the average
| Russian.
| THE HOTELS AND LANGUAGE.
! 1 experienced considerable diff eulty
| in this country through not under
standing word of this Darbarous lau-
gusge; bun usually manage to get alonZ,
and g. lesst 10 get enough 10 cato ssY
| nothing bout the drink. When l strike
botel mere 1 can't talk follow the ex-
ample Il well-knoWn Irish-AmericAn
comeS' IN who, having never learned TO
| speak English and not wishing to besrsy
The 4; &C, placed one finger at the top OF the
bill fsre and the other OF the bottom
and aid. Give me from here TO here" In
this way manage to get from Aloha t0
| Or ga or from soup to w2lnuts without
ri trouble. The walters in many of the
b. els speak French or Germsn, particu-
| l.rly the latter, which helps me out a
Little. However, 1 must admit thai my
knowledge never got much beyond 'Zwei
glas bier, Caspar," notwiih tauding stud
| ious course of lessons under that eminent
instructor of youth, Professor Edmund f.
| Gall. May his shadow never grow lessl
PLACES OF INTEREST NEAR ST. PETERSBURG.
There are several attractive excur.
| Petersburg, the most interesting
being to the Imperial Palace at Peterhof.
In making this trip, ride of sixteen miles
brings Us 10 CroDstadt, the port OF Peters
burg and en- important naval station.
! Thence we 90 on five miles further to the
Palace Orainenbaum, and from there by
rail SIX miles, to Peterhof. This Palace
was built by Peter the Great and one of the
rooms contains many of his carvings in
wood and ivory. 1t is a magnificent place
and the great fountains and superb grounds
fOrcibly recall the glOries of Versailles.
The park contains several other smaller
palaces and chateaus. Three quarters of
an hour from ST. Petersburg at "Tsarkoe
Selo" is another great palace built by Cath
crime IL, and upon which she lavished
wealth with the most extravsgant profu-
sion. For example, the walls of one room
are paneled with Amber and in another
Lapis Lszuli is used in much the same way.
The floors are of EBONY, inlaid with moth
er OF pearl and in GATHERINGS he'd room, the
pillars are of purple glass and the walls
decorated with Porcelain,
OFF FOR MOSCOW.
Having now done full Justice
to Russias Capital, turn my back
on st. Petersburg and depart for
the ancient city of Moscow where l have
just arrived after a long, tiresome ride
through fiat, bleak and unattrsc:ive
country. No place OF importance is passed
on the way and there is little to break the
monotoDy of the journey, other than the
struggling villages of miserable log huts,
occupied by the peasantry. Occasionally
peasant girls in their bright red dresses. are
seen hard at work in the harvest fields, and
now and then q shepherd or shepherdess at
tending their fiocks of black sheep; but
generally the ride is dull and uninteresting
and ] rejoice when Moscow is reached,
where ] now close this letter leaving the
Muscovite for my next. w. z. E.
| GOld's Big Theft.